- The problem
- Spartan is recalling certain model year 1998 through 2010 advantage, barron, gladiator, metrostar, mountain star, and tr-1 fire apparatus chassis cabs manufactured between february 27, 2003 and november 17, 2009 and belts sold to various vehicle alters. Certain seat belt anchorages fail to conform to the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 210, "Seat belt assembly anchorages."
- The risk
- The seat belt may separate from the cab during a vehicle crash and fail to properly restrain the occupant. This may result in personal injury to the seat occupant.
- The fix
- Spartan will notify owners and repair the vehicles free of charge. The safety recall began on june 2, 2010. Owners may contact spartan chassis at 1-800-543-4277 - option 1.
Vehicle safety record
1998 Spartan Gladiator Problems, complaints & recalls
No owner complaints about the 1998 Spartan Gladiator have been filed with NHTSA. It is covered by 4 recalls, the latest in February 2010 for the anchorage.
NHTSA data checked
CAbout as many problems as a typical Gladiator year, for its age
- Complaints
- 0
- Recalls
- 4
- Crashes
- 0
- Fires
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Deaths
- 0
1998 Spartan Gladiator recalls 4
Recall repairs are free. Your dealer fixes them whether or not you bought the car there - check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see if yours is done. What to do
- The problem
- Vehicle description: fire trucks. These fire trucks are all 4-door models which contain dual, forward facing passenger seats. The hardware utilized to mount the seat box to the cab floor and to the backwall structure, and also to mount the type 1 seat belt systems, was inadequate to meet the requirements of fmvss nos. 207/210, ""Seating systems" and "seat belt assembly anchorages."
- The risk
- The seat box mounting/restraining hardware can loosen or fail allowing the seat/seat box assembly to break free of its mounting to the cab floor and/or backwall which could cause injury to the occupants of those seats.
- The fix
- Dealers will replace the seat box mounting fasteners.
- The problem
- Vehicle description: fire trucks. If the driver accelerates in a turn above 20 mph forward speed, the lock pin is actuated and causes the axle to resist returning to the straight ahead position after the turn is completed because the lock pin is binding on the clamp plate surface.
- The risk
- Engaging the lock pin in the lcmp plate hole at high forward speeds causes excessive wear in the lock pin and/or the clamp plate hole. Lane changes and other vehicle maneuvers will greatly increase contact frequency and causes wear, increasing the risk of loss of vehicle control.
- The fix
- Dealers will replace the tag axles on these fire trucks.
- The problem
- Vehicle description: fire trucks. A defective electrical harness, part no. 200185, Was used on these fire trucks, causing an inoperative 'check transmission light.' There would be no in-cab indication of a transmission fault which could lead to an inoperative vehicle if not serviced according to the transmission failure codes.
- The risk
- The transmission could lock in a range and upshift/downshift would be restricted, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
- The fix
- Dealers will repair the wiring in these harnesses.
What owners say
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No complaints about the 1998 Spartan Gladiator yet
No owner has filed a complaint about this vehicle with NHTSA. If yours has a problem, share it here and report it to NHTSA.
Spartan Gladiator: every year compared
All Gladiator yearsQuestions about the 1998 Spartan Gladiator
Does the 1998 Spartan Gladiator have any recalls?
Yes - NHTSA lists 4 recalls for the 1998 Spartan Gladiator: anchorage (February 2010); anchorage (May 1999); suspension (November 1998); front underhood (October 1998). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether yours has been fixed.
How many complaints has the 1998 Spartan Gladiator had?
None have been filed with NHTSA so far.
Is the 1998 Spartan Gladiator a reliable vehicle?
Its Safety Index is 58 out of 100 (grade C: about as many problems as a typical Spartan Gladiator year, for its age). The index weighs complaints, crashes, fires, injuries, deaths and recalls against how long the vehicle has been on the road, compared with the same model's other years. It is not a measure of every repair - read the complaints and owner experiences, and have any used vehicle inspected before you buy.
Which Spartan Gladiator years have the most complaints?
2014 (2), 1996 (1), 2020 (1). See every Spartan Gladiator year compared.
What should I do if my 1998 Spartan Gladiator has a problem?
If it is a safety problem, stop driving it if it is unsafe and contact your dealer. Report it to NHTSA at nhtsa.gov/report-a-safety-problem - enough reports start investigations and recalls - and share your experience here so other owners know what to look for.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints and recalls, checked . Complaints are owners' own reports and are not verified. How we use the data